Latest data edition · Nov 3, 2026
The Shrinking Safety: why Michigan, Georgia Tech and UC Irvine are becoming reaches
Acceptance rates at top public flagships have fallen fast. For many applicants, residency and intended major now decide the real odds more than the headline admit rate does.
2–3%Acceptance rate at RSI, versus open admission at pay-to-publish research programs
$4–6MSummer program revenue one university can earn from high school students
+13.1%Growth in Sub-Saharan African students, the fastest-growing sending region to U.S. colleges
~3%MOOC completion rates at MIT and Harvard
Running series · 8 of 12 issues
All issuesThe Pre-College ROI Project
One framework applied to every way families spend on pre-college activities: what it costs, how selective it is, and what admissions readers actually see.
Issue 8 · Aug 1STEM Certifications, MOOCs, and Micro-CredentialsMOOC completion at MIT and Harvard fell to roughly 3%.Issue 7 · Jul 1Arts & Performance PathwaysYoungArts selects roughly 10% of applicants.Issue 6 · Jun 1The Authenticity Question58% of admissions officers say community service helps, but not all service is equal.Issue 5 · May 1The Work QuestionTwo very different experiences both get listed as "internship."
Data explorers
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Early Round TrackerClass of 2031 ED and EA application volume and admit rates, updated as schools announce.Opens mid-DecemberFeeder CollegesWhich undergraduate schools send the most students to top law, medical and business schools, Wall Street and Big Tech.In developmentGlobal Enrollment MapInternational students to the U.S. by region and country, from Open Doors and SEVIS data.In development
Recent data notes
All notesNov 3, 2026Roughly 1 in 3,900 science fair entrants reaches ISEF's international stage7 million students enter ISEF-affiliated fairs each year; about 1,800 reach the international fairNov 2, 2026At Georgia Tech, residency more than triples the admit rateGeorgia Tech admit rate for Georgia residents vs. nonresidents, Fall 2025Oct 30, 2026Michigan applications have more than doubled since the Class of 2020University of Michigan first-year applications, Class of 2020 (55,504) to Class of 2030 (115,125)
Full reports
All reportsAug 21, 2026The Weight of the Lottery: how H-1B policy is redrawing the line between sending countriesVisa bottlenecks and their effect on Indian graduate applicants. ingeniusprep.comApr 24, 2026Resilience by Region: global enrollment shifts and what they mean for selectivityIndia past China, Sub-Saharan Africa growing fastest, Latin America rebuilding. ingeniusprep.comApr 10, 2026IB vs. AP vs. A-Levels: predictive validity and strategic fitWhat IBO, College Board and HESA outcome data say about each credential. ingeniusprep.comApr 3, 2026The Class of 2030 Full Cycle: Ivy Day results and the end of the "soft yes" deferralEarly-round transparency retreats, binding ED at public flagships, a new deferral reality. ingeniusprep.com
The weekly digest
One new report, the week's best data notes, and what's moving in the admissions cycle. Every Friday.